Note:
The spoken Chinese Mandarin language has 4
spoken tones. We have attempted to re-create
those below where after each syllable we tell
you (1), (2), (3), or (4) as they correspond
to each of the 4 tones. We encourage you to
complement your Xianzai.com Emergency Chinese
newsletter with a good offline study program.
Taxi
English
chu(1) zu(1) che(1) ying(1) yu(3)
NEW
WORDS
(1) Left:
zuo(3)
(2) Right: you(4)
(3) Straight ahead: yi(4)zhi(2)xiang(4)qian(2)zou(3)
(4) Hotel: bin(1)guan(3)
(5) Airport: fei(1)ji(1)chang(3)
(6) How much: duo(1)shao(3)qian(2)
LESSON
- Please
turn left here.
qing(3) zuo(3) zhuan(3).
- Take
the next right please.
qing(3) zai(4) xia(4) ge(4) lu(4) kou(3)
you(4) zhuan(3).
- How
much does it cost to go to the airport?
qu(4) ji(1) chang(3) duo(1) shao(3) qian(2)?
- Take
me to my hotel please.
qing(3) song(4) wo(3) dao(4) bin(1) guan(3).
* Tip: Taking a trip in a China taxi
is, in my view, one of the most funny things
that you can do in China. Taxis are slightly
different from city to city but drivers are
pretty similar no matter where you go.
Some taxi drivers really believe
that they were born for the racetrack and
can give you a hair-raising experience to
tell your grandchildren about. Others are
keen to prod you for your views about China
and whatever city you happen to be in at the
time (I have learned more about China politics
from
speaking to cab drivers than I have in three
years of Master degree study!).
Learn some taxi Chinese and
hang-on for the ride!
